Elmer's Restaurant (Albany, OR) — Restaurant in Albany

I just called the store to make sure I got the name of my sever correct: Robert. I used to wait tables, loooooong time ago, back in "the day". I only remember one server who still sticks in my memory, until Robert. Can't get good service anymore - everyone's a worker, a lemming, a team player, "nice" but pretty mindless/stupid - no more true artists, who serve the person, not just the table - folks these days feel entitled to a tip. We always had to be good to get anything worth putting in a pocket. We served the table for the meal duration, attentive thruout. We served the table, not just deliver and pick up plates and maybe try to be drippingly "nice" for that tip (as opposed to being proficient and professional and attentive, but not doting). I am happy these days with decent service and good food, that shows up hot and the way I asked for it. . . . . It's been so long since I've had even good service (beyond hot food, served in a reasonable time scape), I found myself being stunned, again and again with Robert: The man had me in his sights my entire meal: my coffee was full, food hot, good, and as I specified. I mean, it was eggs and potatoes and coffee. . . . . . but I could and have been more than not, left with my meal, until I asked for the check or more coffee. . . . . Robert did not dote, so it is likley he has no earthly which of his morning patrons this review comes from, and it was almost a month ago, earlyish Oct. It was like he was gone, until I needed somthing, and then he was there and asking if I wanted what I was thinking I did, when I was thinking it. Otherewise he left me alone (FABulous). If it were this morning he waited on me, I'd have more detail to relay. Suffice this: for such an impression to be made on me, over service of a simple breakfast and not a fine dinner (which is what my other lone fav waitress was serving me), is. . . . . stunning. I think on 5 seperate occasions during my meal I took note of being attended when it was unexpected. I think once I looked like I was thinking I needed somthing and he stopped over, seeing me. I mean, no doting but . . . . he was watching!! I'll bet he gets the tips, and he'd do well at any fine dining establishment, and bank some groovey money. Thanks Robert. I felt like you had my back the entire time. If I had a resturaunt, I'd steal you and pay you enough to keep...

Sunday I went to Elmers for breakfast after church. It was unusually quiet for that time a day. I was seated and brought my menu. I waited for about 15 minutes until my waitress came. She said sorry, I forgot about you. I asked her if I could get a half order of the avocado eggs benedict. (I am trying to portion control my meals) She said no. (You cant really warm up eggs benedict. ) Anyways I asked to have my eggs poached hard. When I received my food, I didnt have time to check it out because she dropped it off and took off. She gave me crab benedict. I cannot eat crab. I waited and waited for her to return which seemed like an eternity. I even pushed the plate for her to notice I wasnt eating it. After walking past me several times without looking, I finally hollered out to her. I told her I received the wrong order. She says, "no you didnt, that is not what you pointed at." I told her I cant eat crab. So she said she would order me another one. I think a manager might have brought it to me It was horrible. My eggs were super runny, the whites also. The tomato was tough, tiny slivers of avocado, and hardly any hollandaise sauce. I slid the slimy eggs off and ate the soggy muffin and the tomato and avocado. The side fruit was delicious. She came back with my bill and before she started to turn around I asked her to look at the eggs. She said "sorry I forgot to tell them." I got up a lil sick to my stomach knowing that I was paying 15 dollars for some soggy bread and leaving still hungry. I took my bill and as I was paying,the hostess asked if everything was okay, and I told her no it wasnt. She said oh sorry and that was all. I asked her if the waitress name was on the receipt because she was not wearing a name badge. The hostess says no its not. Then started to ring someone else up. I had to ask another waitress that I knew there her name. My waitress name was Journey. She really needs some training in proper...

completely messed up my order. i asked for chicken sausage, eggs over medium and sourdough toast. they gave me fully cooked eggs, ham, bacon, regular sausage and one order of sourdough toast for my two breakfast entrees ordered. so I talked to Lilly who offered no apologies, but offered to make it again. I said "sounds good" and hung up the phone and headed right over. she then used my hanging up as justification for why she didn't have the kitchen get that started. so I had to spend the rest of my lunch break waiting in the lobby for them to make it. the chef came out and asked me if they had repeated my order over the phone, which they of course hadn't. I told him I didn't think it would've mattered since they couldn't even get my name right when I spelled it out for them. he said that it's hard to hear over the phone and used her same excuse of me "hanging up" as justification and walked away, also with no apologies whatsoever. i get that it's hard to hear over a phone but it's really hard to mistake the words "chicken sausage", as "bacon, ham, and sausage"

all this after she didn't understand what a receipt is, and said "its stapled to the bag". what is stapled to the bag is a kitchen ticket that has no prices whatsoever on it. she then told me that since it was cashed out she couldn't print me a receipt. so I had to look at a menu to get prices so that the other perso who ordered with me could pay for their share. it's too bad because we often go there on Saturdays for the whole crew I work with. I will definitely think twice about going here again. seems like brick and mortar might be about the only good breakfast place in...